U.S. sanctions Filipino, others for supporting Islamic State

Reuters

Alleged Abu Sayyaf member Abulpatta Abubakar was arrested in Quezon City in 2017.

WASHINGTON - The United States said on Friday it had imposed sanctions on three people and three companies in the Philippines, Turkey and Somalia that supported the Islamic State militant group, including a business that procured parts for unmanned aircraft.

The U.S. Treasury, in a statement, said it had imposed sanctions on Abdulpatta Escalon Abubakar for providing financial and material support for Islamic State and its network in the Philippines.

It sanctioned Yunus Emre Sakarya and his Turkey-based firm Profesyoneller Elektronik for procuring parts for unmanned aircraft for Islamic State. And it sanctioned Mohamed Mire Ali Yusuf and his firms Liibaan Trading and Al Mutafaq Commercial Company for activities supporting Islamic State in Somalia.

Abubakar, an alleged Abu Sayyaf member believed to be involved in a kidnapping incident in Sabah, Malaysia 17 years ago and said to have continued funding the terror group, was arrested in Quezon City in 2017.

The Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) arrested Abubakar, also known by his alias Kitong Imran, on Oct. 26.

Abubakar was said to be among Abu Sayyaf members involved in a kidnapping incident at the Pulau Sipadan resort in Sabah on April 23, 2000.

The terrorists allegedly brought their victims to Barangay Talom in Jolo, Sulu. Witnesses said they saw Abubakar guarding the Abu Sayyaf camp there.

The suspect stayed in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for a long time before his arrest.

Authorities said they monitored Abubakar giving funds to Abu Sayyaf leaders Radullan Sahiron and Isnilon Hapilon, whose death in Marawi City paved the way for the end of five months of firefights between state forces and Islamic State-linked terrorists.

Immigration officials had first arrested the suspect on Sept. 26 when he came home from Jeddah. He was immediately released due to lack of evidence.